Methods and apparatus for a readily opened and closed, roll up container

ABSTRACT

The invention includes the following: A roll formed of a piece of material, which can be rolled up to carry items into a venue or event requiring a search of brought items. It can be quickly opened, inspected, and closed. Drawstrings may be provided to close end(s). A cushion may be provided. Using a container made of a material piece with at least one see-through pocket on a first side and fastening strips on two opposing sides. The fastening strips may preferably be a hook and loop type fastener. Doing business, which includes the following. A merchant providing container to customer, via concession site, receiving first revenue from customer. A concession site provider, hosts concession site to receive site revenue from merchant. The first and site revenues are products of the business process.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to roll up containers, which can be readily opened and closed.

BACKGROUND ART

Today there are a wide assortment of carrying containers, all of them share some problems. Most people entering sporting arenas, mass transportation stations and embarking on air travel, face the requirement to open their carrying containers for security and/or customs inspections. The time it takes to thoroughly open and show these officials the container contents affects not only the person carrying the container, but also those behind the person in queue, as well as the mood of the officials involved. For these reasons, it is advantageous for carrying containers to support being readily opened for inspection to show all contents, and then readily closed before leaving the inspection area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes a roll formed of a piece of material which can be rolled up to securely, and conveniently, carry items into a venue, such as a stadium, arena, or into any event that would require a possible search of items being brought into it. The roll can be opened, inspected, and closed, in a matter of seconds.

Certain other preferred embodiments may further provide drawstrings to controllably close each end when the invention is rolled up.

Certain preferred embodiments can further provide a cushion for sitting.

The invention includes using a container made of a piece of material with at least one see-through pocket on a first side. The container further includes fastening strips onto a first side and second, opposing side. The use includes the following.

-   -   Placing at least one object on the first side of the material         piece in the see-through pocket.     -   Closing the material piece to create the container with the         placed object by attaching the fastening strips of the first         side and the second side to each other.     -   Releasing the attached fastening strips to rapidly open the         container.

The fastening strips may preferably be a hook and loop type fastener.

The invention also includes a method of doing business, including the following steps.

-   -   A merchant providing the container to a customer, via a         concession site, to create a first revenue from the customer     -   The concession site promoting the container to the customer.     -   A concession site provider hosting a concession site to create a         site revenue from the merchant; wherein the site revenue from         the merchant is based at least partly upon the expectation of         creating the first revenue for the merchant.

The invention further includes the first revenue and the site revenue as products of the process of doing business.

The concession site may be any of the following: a venue concession site, a transportation concession site, a marketplace concession site, and a concession web site.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed descriptions and studying the various figures of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a view of first side of a first example of a roll fabricated in accord with the invention, in an unfurled position;

FIG. 1B illustrates a second side of FIG. 1A illustrating the outside view of the roll;

FIG. 2A shows what the roll looks like while in use;

FIG. 2B shows a view of first side of the inside view of a second example embodiment in the unfurled position, which is a refinement of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3A shows the second side, which is the outside view of the embodiment of FIG. 2B, and a refinement of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 3B shows what the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 3A looks like while in use;

FIG. 4A shows a view of a first side of the inside view of a third example embodiment in the unfurled position, as a refinement of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4B shows the second side, which is the outside view of the third example embodiment, which is a refinement of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the second side as shown in FIGS. 1B, 3A, and 4B; and

FIG. 6 shows a business method providing containers to generate revenue for a merchant, and for a concession site provider.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes an embodiment, which is a piece of material which can be rolled up to securely, and conveniently, carry items into a venue, such as a stadium, arena, or into any event that would require a possible search of items being brought into it. The roll can be opened, inspected, and closed, in a matter of seconds. In some embodiments a opening may be formed in the material to allow the user's head to pass through the opening so that the material also me used as a poncho. The opening may be resealable using known fastening means including but not limited to a zipper, snaps, buttons, or hook and loop fastener.

FIG. 1A shows a view of the first side of a roll 200 built in accord with the invention, which is an inside view in an unfurled position.

Number 10 is a piece of material, which can be of cotton cloth canvas, nylon canvas, heavy plastic, leather, nylon, or other useable material. The material may also provide insulation, keeping the contents hot or cold.

Numbers 20 and 30 are see-through pockets, which are sewn into material 10. The pockets may be on either side of the material 10. The pockets 20 and 30 may hold tickets, keys, money, wallet, peanuts, a sandwich, and so on. Essentially anything that will fit inside it will be identifiable by a security official without the need to remove it from the see-through pocket. The see-through pockets may be made of at least any of the following: see-through mesh, clear plastic, and see-through fabric. See through pockets may be attached anywhere on the first side. The pockets 20 and 30 may have means for closing the pockets to prevent items from falling out, including but not limited to buttons, zippers, and hook and loop type fasteners.

The invention is used by placing at least one object 160 on the first side of the material piece in a see-through pocket 30.

In some embodiments, it may be possible to fold the material of the invention into one of the pockets sewn onto the material.

Numbers 40, 42, and 44 are fastener pieces, preferably a hook and loop type fastener, used to allow easy opening of the roll and to secure the ends when closed. There may be two or more fastener pieces. The position and relative length and width of the fastener pieces may vary from what is shown in the Figures. In other embodiments other known fasteners may be used including but not limited to buttons and snaps.

Belt 50 is used for securing and carrying the Roll. Belt 50 is preferably primarily composed of NYLON™, leather, and/or webbing. The belt 50 may preferably be wide enough, and made of a material optimized for placing buttons or logos. Such belts 50 further support the business of attaching logos to the container 200.

Number 60 is a plastic or metal belt loop anchor for tightening the loop of belt 50 around the rolled items and to allow belt 50 to act as a carrier for carrying the roll over one's shoulder.

FIG. 1B shows a second side of material piece 10 of FIG. 1A illustrating the outside view of the roll 200.

FIG. 1B shows a cut-away of the contents of see-through pocket 30, including the placed object 160, of FIG. 1A. The see-through pocket 20 is also shown in outline, with a different shape than the corresponding see-through pocket 20 of FIG. 1A.

Numbers 80, 82, and 84 are fastener strips, preferably strips of a hook and loop type fastener. They are preferably compatible with strips 40, 42, and 44, and are preferably longer in length than their counterparts 40, 42, and 44 on first side, to accommodate for various sizes of loads. These strips may also be preferably hook or loop strips, compatible respectively with the opposing loop or hook strips 40, 42, and 44 on first side.

Belt 50 is preferably attached into the center of the material 10 for balance when being carried. Belt 50 may be attached by adhesives and/or stitching.

Number 70 refers to a loop (which may be comprised of any material including metal or plastic) attached to an end of the belt 50, which is attached to material 10. The belt 50 is looped through the loop 70 once items are rolled into the roll.

Number 90 may alternatively be a belt type handle for carrying the roll in one's hand, as opposed to carrying it over one's shoulder, or a guide for holding belt 50 centered on the roll. Numbers 100 and 102 are prominent spaces, to which a logo can be applied. This is useful in providing targets for merchants to attach logos to the container to further generate revenue from customers.

FIG. 2A shows what the roll 200 looks like while in use.

The invention includes a second example embodiment, which further includes at least one drawstring on a side, used to close that end.

FIG. 2B shows a view of the first side of the second embodiment in the unfurled position, which is a refinement of FIG. 1A. The see-through pocket 20 of the previous Figures may have openings on the first side and/or the opposing, second side as shown in this Figure. The contents of the see-through pocket 30 is represented by an object 160, placing in that pocket as in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3A shows the second side, which is the outside view of the embodiment of FIG. 2B, and is also a refinement of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 3B shows what the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 3A looks like while in use.

In FIGS. 2B and 3A, numbers 110 and 112 on either side of the material 10 refer to small material tubes, in which drawstrings 130 and 132, respectively reside. Numbers 120 and 122 are the slide locks for the drawstrings 130 and 132 for keeping the ends taught, when the roll is closed, as shown in FIG. 3B. Numbers 140 and 142 are the sewn or otherwise anchored ends of the drawstrings 130 and 132. This is preferably the only place where the drawstrings are attached to the material.

When one or both of the drawstrings 120 and/or 122 are pulled tight, the ends of the roll close, much like a drawstring on sweatshirt hood. The small slide locks 120 and 122 hold the ends closed.

The invention includes another example embodiment which, in addition to being a storage device for carrying items, can also double as a cushion for sitting.

FIG. 4A shows a view of the first side of this embodiment in the unfurled position, as a refinement of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4B shows the second side, which is the outside view of the roll, which is a refinement of FIG. 1B.

Number 150, in FIGS. 4A and 4B, refers to the cushion portion of roll. This portion 150 of the roll can made of a compressible material, sandwiched in between two layers of material or filled with air under pressure. The compressible may be one of a number of acceptable materials including but not limited to foam materials.

A further preferred embodiment includes the following. Number 160 refers to an air valve used to get air into the cushion portion 150. Number 160 can be either a typical air valve where one can manually blow air into the chamber. Alternatively an induction air valve 160 may be used to suck air into the chamber, while the roll is being opened up and the air valve is held open.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the second side as shown in FIGS. 1B, 3A, and 4B, with longer fastening regions 80-84, and without logo regions 100 and 102. The sewing of pockets 20 and 30 is visible, as is stitching about the perimeter of the material piece 10. Hinge 70 is shown rounded, rather than rectangular, as in the previous Figures.

FIG. 6 shows a business method providing containers 200 to generate revenue 800 for a merchant 700, and revenue 800 for a concession site provider 710 hosting 712 the concession site 500 by which a customer 600 is provided the container 200.

The concession site 500 of FIG. 6 may include any of the following: a venue concession site, a transportation concession site, a marketplace concession site, and a concession web site.

-   -   The venue concession site may be a stadium concession site, a         theater concession site, and an arena concession site.     -   The transportation concession site is may be a bus station         concession site, a train station concession site, an airport         concession site, a ferry terminal concession site, a ferry         concession site, a train concession site, and an airplane         concession site.     -   The airplane concession site may be embodied as written material         to the customer.     -   The marketplace concession site may be a farmers market         concession site, a flea market concession site, an open air         market concession site, a merchant's collective concession site,         and a commission based retail concession site.

FIG. 6 also shows a second merchant 720 servicing 722 the container to create at least one logo 220 on the container 200 for the customer 600, to create a second revenue 820 from 822 the customer 600 to 824 the second merchant 720. The invention also includes the second revenue 820 as a product of this business process.

The second merchant 720 may use 724 a second concession site 520 to provide 722 the logo 220 on the container 200.

In FIG. 6, the concession site provider 710 may host 522 the second concession site 520 to receive 822 a second site revenue 820 from 726 the second merchant 720. The second site revenue 520 is based at least partly upon the expectation of creating the second revenue 820 by the second merchant 720.

In certain preferred embodiments, the first merchant 700 may be essentially the second merchant 720.

The preceding embodiments have been provided by way of example and are not meant to constrain the scope of the following claims. 

1. The container for easy inspection, rapid opening and rapid closure, comprising: a piece of material further including at least one see-through pocket on a first side of said material piece; at least two fastening strips on said first side; and at least two fastening strips on a second side; wherein said first side and said second side are opposing sides of said material piece.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein said material piece is primarily composed of at least one member of the collection comprising a cloth canvas, a nylon canvas, a heavy plastic, a leather, a nylon, a canvas like material, and an insulating material.
 3. The container of claim 1, wherein said fastening strips of said first side and said fastening strips of said second side are mating strips of a hook and loop type fastener.
 4. The container of claim 1, further comprising a belt attached to said second side.
 5. The container of claim 4, wherein said belt includes a belt anchor.
 6. The container of claim 4, wherein said belt is primarily composed of a member of the collection including a cloth, a nylon, a leather, and a plastic.
 7. The container of claim 4, a hinge attached to said belt, and attached to said material piece on said second side.
 8. The container of claim 4, further comprising at least one logo region on said belt.
 9. The container of claim 1, further comprising at least one logo region on at least one member of the collection comprising said first side and said second side.
 10. The container of claim 1, further comprising a cushion region sandwiched between said first side and said second side.
 11. The container of claim 1, further comprising at least one drawstring attached to said material piece and traveling a material tube.
 12. The container of claim 11, further comprising a slide lock coupled to said drawstring.
 13. A method of using a container made of a piece of material, comprising the steps of: placing at least one object in a see-through pocket on a first side of said material piece to create a placed object in said see-through pocket; creating said container with said placed object by attaching fastening strips on said first side and a second, opposing side; opening the container by releasing said attached fastening strips; and visually inspecting said placed object in said see-through pockets.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step creating said container is further comprised of the step of: tightening a side lock on a drawstring attached to said material piece and traveling through a material tube in said material piece; and wherein the step opening said container is further comprised of the step of: loosening said side lock on said drawstring.
 15. A method of doing business, comprising the steps of: a merchant providing said container to a customer, via a concession site, to create a first revenue from said customer; said concession site promoting said container to said customer for rapid opening and rapid closure; a concession site provider hosting a concession site to create a site revenue from said merchant; wherein said site revenue from said merchant is based at least partly upon the expectation of creating said first revenue for said merchant; wherein said container includes means for placing at least one object in a see-through pocket on a first side of said material piece to create a placed object in said see-through pocket; means for creating said container with said placed object by attaching fastening strips on said first side and a second, opposing side; means for opening the container by releasing said attached fastening strips.
 16. Said first revenue and said site revenue as products of the process of claim
 15. 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: a second merchant servicing said container to create at least one logo on said container for said customer, to create a second revenue from said customer.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said merchant is essentially the same as said second merchant.
 19. Said second revenue as a product of the process of claim
 18. 20. Said method of claim 18, wherein said second merchant provides said logo on said container using a second concession site; the method further comprising the step of: said concession site provider hosting said second concession site to create a second of said site revenues from said second merchant; wherein said second site revenue from said second merchant is based at least partly upon the expectation of creating said second revenue by said second merchant.
 21. The method of claim 15, wherein said concession site includes a member of the collection comprising a venue concession site, a transportation concession site, a marketplace concession site, and a concession web site.
 22. Said second revenue as a product of the process of claim 21, wherein said venue concession site is a member of the collection comprising a stadium concession site, a theater concession site, and an arena concession site; wherein said transportation concession site is a member of the collection comprising a bus station concession site, a train station concession site, an airport concession site, a ferry terminal concession site, a ferry concession site, a train concession site, and an airplane concession site; wherein said airplane concession site embodied as written material to said customer; and wherein said marketplace concession site is a member of the collection comprising a farmers market concession site, a flea market concession site, an open air market concession site, a merchant's collective concession site, and a commission based retail concession site.
 23. The container of claim 1, further comprising an opening through which a head of a user may pass so that the container may be worn as a poncho.
 24. The container of claim 1, further comprising a pocket on said material of said container into which said material may be folded and stored. 